by Beatrice Guarrera Have archaeologists finally found this mysterious location? The ruins at et-Tell During the time of the Gospels, Bethsaida was a fishing village located somewhere between the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee (the Lake of Tiberias), perhaps not far from Capernaum. The village was ruled by Herod [...]

By Frederic Manns, OFM The Theology of the Mosaics in the Church of the Nativity In the recent restoration of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, about a tenth of the original mosaics which graced its walls have been restored, giving a new look at the glorious past of this holy [...]

Discovery of the True Cross by Agnolo Gaddi St. Helena, the Legend of the True Cross, and the Holy Sepulcher This is a legend unlike any other. It all started with a young servant girl named Flavia Julia Helena. Born in 248 C.E. in Bithynia, a province of the [...]

By Alyssa Ramos of MyLifeIsAMovie.com If you said you felt a little anxious about traveling to the Middle East or traveling in general, you wouldn't be alone! Being in a foreign place where you don't know the culture or the language is intimidating for most and can lead to some anxiety, especially for [...]

From chartrescathedral.net One of the stops on our special summer pilgrimage through France, the Chartres Cathedral is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and said by some to be the most beautiful cathedral in France. Chartres Cathedral Located 80 kilometers southwest of Paris, the cathedral is a milestone in [...]

There are many companies and organizations planning trips to the Holy Land, which is why we often get asked, “What makes you different? What is the advantage of taking a Franciscan Holy Land Pilgrimage? What do you offer that I might not get if I traveled with another group?” Good question! And, because we hear [...]

Alyssa Ramos of MyLifesaMovie.com makes a living traveling the world and sharing her expert tips with amateur travelers. Her expertise below can help you stay organized when taking a Franciscan Holy Land Pilgrimage. It has taken me [Alyssa Ramos] a while to actually create this Travel Planning Form for important trip details, because I [...]

Traveling Abroad by Kyla Steeves Whenever you’re traveling abroad, it can be challenging to put the camera down. Everywhere you turn, there’s picturesque landscapes, candy-colored buildings and of course, iconic landmarks. And when you’re traveling on a Holy Land Pilgrimage, each site holds spiritual significance. As a result, you might find that you’re [...]

by Audrey Scott Sometimes, no matter what you do, stuff happens and your passport disappears. Losing a passport or having one stolen is terrible and inconvenient, but there are a few things you can do before you leave on a Franciscan Holy Land Pilgrimage to expedite the passport replacement process. In this case, the [...]

The German town of Oberammergau. Oberammergau is a small town with a little over 5,000 inhabitants, nestled in the lap of the majestic Bavarian Alps, in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Though the term “fairy-tale town” has been rather overused in the context of quintessential German towns, there is no better [...]